Does color or no color really matter on a jig head? I can easily get access to paint markers to use. And I'm aware that the paint will chip if used on jigs.

Unpainted or pearl white for shad color jigs. I paint mine using Testors model enamel paint, doesn't chip and comes in colors then you will ever need. Black, brown, purple and pearl white is all you need. I don't like green jig heads, Looks like moss that needs to be cleaned off!

Tom

I don't think color on jigs heads matters that much.  Fishermen care more than the fish.

I have a lot of painted jig heads with the paint knocked off.  I don't think it matters.

Unpainted jig heads or unpainted weights, the bass don't care.

 

With that said I throw both painted ?

I think it only matters if you're talking about brightly colored vs dark. It doesnt matter if you've got a silver vs unpainted lead. But compared with a chartreuse obviously that will stand out.

7 hours ago, WRB said:

Unpainted or pearl white for shad color jigs. I paint mine using Testors model enamel paint, doesn't chip and comes in colors then you will ever need. Black, brown, purple and pearl white is all you need. I don't like green jig heads, Looks like moss that needs to be cleaned off!

Tom

Do you dip them in the jar or brush paint them?

11 hours ago, Catt said:

Unpainted jig heads or unpainted weights, the bass don't care.

 

With that said I throw both painted ?

This

12 hours ago, Catt said:

Unpainted jig heads or unpainted weights, the bass don't care.

 

With that said I throw both painted ?

Same here, mostly because most decent jigs come painted, and I don't like to touch bare lead if I can avoid it. With the exception of shad darts, yellowtail hooks, and some other tiny jigs, I haven't found jighead color to matter.

When the water dirties up a little, or a neck down area between two lakes, or around bridge pilings I can often entice more bites with an orange jighead.

 

oe

13 hours ago, CarpCasey said:

Do you dip them in the jar or brush paint them?

I use a small brush, don't like paint in the hook eye. I believe a smooth unpainted hook eye is better then a painted surface, doesn't degrade the line knot strength as it's clinched tight.

Just another idiosyncrasy.

Tom

 

To paint or not paint probably doesn't matter but...I paint mine using powder paint and a heat gun. Simple process, paint is super durable and its cheap to do. Think I paid less than $20 for the heat gun and a jar of powder paint is less than $7.00. Heat jig approx 15 seconds, dip in paint, clear any excess paint from hook eye with toothpick, set aside. I'd make striper bucktail jigs a dozen or so at a time. After they're "dipped, I bake them in an old toaster oven 30 min to really bake the paint on and smooth out any clumps. Not for everyone but its fun to do in the winter to keep my head in the game.

My fishing OCD will not allow me to use unpainted jigheads.  I normally make them each year before the season. Since I have the time I like to make them right. Now there are times where I run out in the summer that I just throw things together. 

 

Allen 

On 6/24/2019 at 12:53 PM, WRB said:

Unpainted or pearl white for shad color jigs. I paint mine using Testors model enamel paint, doesn't chip and comes in colors then you will ever need. Black, brown, purple and pearl white is all you need. I don't like green jig heads, Looks like moss that needs to be cleaned off!

Tom

Thanks, I ordered a set of this, was thinking about powder coat but gave up even before trying.

I'm convinced it doesn't matter a bit. If the bass could tell the difference between a painted and unpainted jelly-bean-sized piece of lead, we wouldn't be catching them on all they funky stuff we throw at them.

Who would buy a unpainted black with blue jig?...knowone, paint the jig head black...everyone.

Tom

2 hours ago, WRB said:

Who would buy a unpainted black with blue jig?...knowone, paint the jig head black...everyone.

Tom

As in, those only in the know?

Interesting subject.  The great bass pro worm fishing expert Woo Daves always said he wanted his slip sinkers to match his worm.

Another interesting discussion on the subject. Thanks all.

 

I will mate a brightly colored jighead with a dull grub so I have a pop of color, much like painting a chartreuse stripe on the back or tail.

No one painted heads when we started making jigs.  We caught lots of fish that way.  However, like Munkin, I can’t tie on an unpainted jig.

 

Certain colors of heads particularly chartreuse often produce more fish especially on Ned rigs.  That’s why I have several color choices.

I get cheap nail polish on Amazon in black, brown, and red.  One bottle paints a lot of Ned rig jigs I make.  Does it matter?  Not sure but a brown jig on a green pumpkin TRD just looks a lot better than an unpainted jig.  

I’m not taking precious time painting a ball head jig because it simply doesn’t matter to fish. Do it if you enjoy the tackle grooming aspect but seriously the fish simply don’t care.. in the 70’s and 80’s you couldn’t buy painted slip sinkers for T-rigging worms but guess what we caught fish and sometimes big largemouth. They were also made out of lead. No tungsten. Eventually brass was available for awhile, made popular out west in clear water C-rigging.. tackle grooming is part of the sport for sure but unpainted jig heads work just as good (sharp hooks matter more) 😉

53 minutes ago, F14A-B said:

I’m not taking precious time painting a ball head jig because it simply doesn’t matter to fish. Do it if you enjoy the tackle grooming aspect but seriously the fish simply don’t care.. in the 70’s and 80’s you couldn’t buy painted slip sinkers for T-rigging worms but guess what we caught fish and sometimes big largemouth. They were also made out of lead. No tungsten. Eventually brass was available for awhile, made popular out west in clear water C-rigging.. tackle grooming is part of the sport for sure but unpainted jig heads work just as good (sharp hooks matter more) 😉

Well Said…

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

I've caught fish on an unpainted jig head which demonstrates that they will hit an unpainted jig head.  It does not mean that some of them do not prefer a painted jig head.

 

There is solid science that shows that some bass are harder to catch than others.   Do some bass shy away from a jig with an unpainted head that would hit a painted jig head?  That would require a controlled test and some statistical analysis to show.  There have been many days when I've started out with a painted jig head and watched it slowly become unpainted as the paint chipped off as I fished it.  I can't say that I noticed a difference in catch rate but there are so many other factors to consider.   I feel strongly that paying attention to details matters.  A natural lead colored jig head looks unnatural to me on a black jig.  I prefer a natural look.  So I will continue to prefer painted jig heads but I will not throw away one with a few chips in the paint until I see some real evidence that it matters.

I don’t think it matters. I’ve caught fish on salt and  freshwater on small paddle tails with lead jig heads.  Fish don’t seem to care. Now that said. I like it lol. I like a painted hog head with a nice skirt. You know like the first time you fish it before it hits the water and it’s all pretty for the last time lol